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Mississippi Sun 3:530:00/3:53
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King With No Crown 3:250:00/3:25
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This Time Tomorrow 3:320:00/3:32
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Tangled Brew 4:310:00/4:31
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Stranger Things 3:230:00/3:23
Lloyd Spiegel
Lloyd Spiegel - trio format: Photo credit: Sean Clohesy
“A guitarist almost without peer, Spiegel deconstructs how the blues guitar is supposed to operate, makes sweet love to it,
then kicks it out the back door” – Australian Guitar Player Magazine
"Lloyd has a very unique style that has surpassed any blues mentor who has taught him. The man is like lightning in a bottle."
- George Vaughan , Host of Saturday Night Blues Review, 91.3 FM
“A revelation, the consummate performer, an Oz Blues & Roots icon.” – Rolling Stone Australia
14 time Australian Blues Award Winner Lloyd Spiegel has one of the most interesting stories in music, having grown up on stage, learning from, and touring with, the founders of modern Blues.
Australian Guitar Magazine calls him “a guitarist almost without peer” and while his staggering command of the instrument leaves no doubt of this, he is first and foremost an entertainer, weaving captivating storytelling and infectious humour throughout to deliver an unforgettable show for any audience that re-invents the blues genre for the masses.
After a recent performance in Fredericton, New Brunswick, “The Great Dark Wonder” quoted: “Time evaporates when the right musician combines skill and personality and Lloyd Spiegel embodies that perfectly. He quickly puts his audience at ease. Almost like a long-lost relative who also happens to be an amazing musician.”
Whether he’s spellbinding audiences with his one man show or leading his dynamic trio, featuring trombone and drums, every performance is an entertainment experience like no other. To quote CBC’s Terry Seguin, ‘Guitar magic and great stories. Go. Be amazed’.
Lloyd has performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, Mariposa Folk Festival, Summerfolk Festival, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Northern Lights Festival and Winnipeg Jazz Festival.
*******
SHOW REVIEW - August 8, 2024
“The Great Dark Wonder”: LLOYD SPIEGEL – LIVE AT THE CHARLOTTE STREET ARTS CENTRE - Fredericton, New Brunswick
by Olivier Leblanc
They say it takes roughly 10,000 hours to master a particular skill. Lloyd Spiegel has undoubtedly exceeded that. His trusty Cole Clark guitar seems more like an extension of himself than an inanimate object. When he plugs it in, there are no odd strums, audible fret buzz, or deep breaths. It starts to sing on its own, much like a carpenter effortlessly pounds nails with a hammer. The fluidity with which he moves his hand up and down the guitar neck is impressive. There is no need for thought or uncertainty when you possess such dexterity. Some folks are simply born to play, and Spiegel is certainly in that category.
He is no stranger to the Canadian music scene. When my daughter and I saw him at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in Fredericton on August 8th, he pointed out that it was his 93rd Canadian performance in the past twelve months. Last year, Spiegel collaborated with Canadians Suzie Vinnick and Charlie A’Court on an album and tour. At this point, it would be fair to call him an honorary Canadian! His stage banter is also on point. While many can seem awkward or scripted, his words flow as naturally as a one-on-one conversation. He can certainly make you laugh, but his description of New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Brent Mason was the most memorable: “The ultimate goal is to have a link in the chain of music’s evolution. Brent Mason has certainly accomplished that!”
Many of his songs rely on a traditional blues formula to connect with the audience, but he augments it with every tool and skill at his disposal. There’s some tapping on the fretboard and drumming on the body of his guitar. His guitar work can be downright mesmerizing! But, as every great musician does, he knows when to dial things back to let his voice and message take over. That is a sure sign of experience and maturity.
The show was elevated by a special guest appearance from Lisa Baird, a member of his Australian trio, on trombone and vocals. Her presence was a surprise, as it hadn’t been previously announced, and her plane had apparently landed in Fredericton only a few hours before the show! The songs featuring her sounded very full and rich. It takes a very skilled musician to complement Spiegel’s work, and she fits that description extremely well! I found myself just as captivated by her musicianship as by Spiegel’s. A personal highlight was a particularly soulful rendition of “All the Cats are Grey” that concluded the first of their two sets.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and left humming the melodies that punctuated Spiegel’s performance. I highly recommend you catch his next show in your area. You certainly won’t regret it!